Magazine torpedo-cane.



PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

J. H. RESE.

MAGAZINE TORPEDO GANE.

APPLIOATION FILED un. 2s. 190s i No MODEL.

UNITED STATES rammed June 3o, 190e.

PATENT OEEICE.

. MAGAZINE TORPEDO-CANE.

DPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent N0. 732,587, dated June 30, 1903.

Application filed February 25, 1903. SerialNo. 145,016. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. RESE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Allegheny, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Magazine 'lorpedo-Cane, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

My invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in magazine-canes for exploding torpedoes or similar charges.

The invention is embodied in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as is described in this specification, delineated in the drawings, and set forth in the appended claims. l

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica-tion, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding'parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a torpedocane embodying. my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same, the exploding-plunger being shown in its lowermost posit-ion in the casing or chamber. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the plunger being shown in contact with the exploding-wallofthechamberorcasing. Fig.

4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the l, ing, as shown at 5.

line 4 4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the band or clamping-ring employed for covering the inlet of the tubular cane portion of the device. Fig. 6 is a side view of the plunger.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the

'numeral 1 designates the tubular cane porlarly upon reference to Figs. 2 and-3, a curved passage-way, as at 6, leads from the tubular cane portion into the reduced or narrowed portion of the bore in the casing, such curved passage-way serving as a means for conducting the explosive charges to the plunger. The

plunger, the construction of which is clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 6, forms au important feature of the present invention and comprisesa lower or striking member 7, which is adapted to contact with the ground or other surface when the device is in use, and at the upper portion of this member 7 the plunger is enlarged or widened, as at 8, until it is ap'- proximately equal in diameter to the width of the enlarged portion of the bore, and from the enlarged portion 8 of said plunger there extends upwardly a member 9, adapted to slide within the narrow or reduced portion 4 of the bore and is provided with a recess or a cavity 10, which when the plunger has reached Y the limit of its travel upwardly kin the casing registers yor communicates with the curved passage-way 6 and receives therefrom one of the torpedoes, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

On elevating or lifting the cane-from the ground the plunger will, through force of gravity and its own Weight, drop toward the bottom of the casing or housing until the shoulder 11 ofthe enlarged portion 8 abuts against a stop or limiting pin 12. The charge will then roll or drop from the downwardlyinclined seat 13 of the recess 10 and onto the similarly downwardly inclined seat portion 14, formed atV the top of the member 7, such charge being retained in position on said seat by the vertical wall 15 of the enlarged portion of the bore. The vcharge'is then ready to be exploded, and as the cane is brought downward into contact with the ground the plunger will be forced upwardly in the casing and the charge exploded between. the upper wall 16 of the enlarged portion of the boreand the seat14 of said plunger. After the explosion of,the charge the fumes or burned products will pass out or escape through virregularlyshaped ports or channels 17, formed adjacent to the aforesaid upper wall 16. It will be observed that this curved channel or duct is arranged at the top portion of the explosivechamber, so that the burned or exhausted charge andthe refuse matter usually accompanying the same is carried out quickly and rapidly, so that it in no way or measure interferes with the explosion of the following charge. y

For the purpose of preventing the flames IOO or exploded products from passing back into the magazine-chamber, and thereby tending to explode the torpedoes, I have provided a safety-tongue, as at 18, which is formed integral with and depends from the upper wall 16 of the enlarged bore on the casing 3. This tongue when the plunger is forced upward is adapted to enter a slot or groove 19, formed in the widened portion 8 of the plunger, and, as will be observed, all communication between the exploding-chamber of the casing and the magazine-chamber is closed or shut ott by this arrangement.

The torpedoes may be inserted in the tube 1 through a side opening 20, which is normally closed by a spring clamping-band 2l, provided with a runner (see Fig. 3) or cork stopper 22 (see Fig. 5) of sufficient size to tit tightly within and close the said opening. By this means a constant air-pressure may be preserved in the magazine portion of the cane which will prevent the charges from rebounding or being disturbed therein when the cane is struck against the surface of the ground to explode a charge in the casing. In case such side opening 2O is not employed the torpedoes may be inserted in tube l by removing the handle 2. (See Fig. l.)

Itis important that the plunger shall fit and play veryloosely in the chamber in order to prevent clogging in use.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my improved device will be readily apparent. It is to be noted in particular that the inclined seat 13 of the cavity or recess within the upper member of the plunger obviates the possibility of the charge remaining in the cavity when the plunger is traveling downward and has passed the tongue 1S, and such tongue also insures that the ames or burned charges shall not in any way disturb or aect the uneXploded torpedoes within the cane.

While I have herein shown and described my preferred device, it will of course be apparent that there may be modifications and Variations in certain respects Without departing from the principle of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I

vease? claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A device of the class described, comprising a magazine-tube, a casing at the end thereof, an explosion-chamber in said casing, a plunger which is independent of the casing and adapted to slide therein and has a vertical slot in its lower member adjacent to the seat for the charge to be exploded, a depending tongue formed in the casing and adapted to enter said slot when the plunger is moved upward, thereby closing communication between the explosion-chamber and the magazine, and an exhaust-passage leading from said chamber.

2. The combination with a magazine-tube and a casing at the end thereof communieating with said tube, of a plunger moving vertically in said casing, said plunger having a recess formed therein, the bottom wall of said recess being inclined, a groove or slot formed in the plunger adjacent to the inclined wall of the recess, and a vertical tongue formed in the casing, adapted to enter said groove when the plunger is moved upwardly in said casing.

3. A device of the class described, coinprising a magazine-tube having an opening in the side thereof for the insertion of the explosive charges, means for closing the said opening, a casing atthe end of said tube and communicating therewith, a plunger comprising two members or arms having a downwardly-inclined seat formed at the point of juncture of said members, the uppermost of said members having a cavity therein to receive a charge from the magazine when the plunger is in its uppermost position, the lower wall of said cavity being downwardly inclined, the construction being such that a charge will be exploded by the contact of the seat with the wall ot' the casing, and an exhaust-passage leading from the explosionchamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOI-IN I-I. RESE.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KnMoN, AMos W. HART. 

